Ok guys I'm back with a few more questions, since I know this is the best place to good answers. My 52 Chevy 235 engine is starting to get tired and noisy. I have a spare 235 engine we are planning on rebuilding. Numbers on the block tell me its 1958- 1962, so my upgrades to the old engine will transfer over. We are wanting to upgrade the cam to something a little more peppy. But I must admit I know very little about cams.I'm not planning on racing or pulling anything so I don't want anything to strong. I've spent all day trying to find one to fit my engine and found a few. They show as 240/248 or 260/272 duration. What would I be getting with the 240/248 duration,almost stock? Thinking I should have something a bit higher? I will change the lifters but don't won't to change the springs. I understand the engine has hydraulic valves and want to stay with the hydraulic. Could someone explain what I'm looking at and where I'm most likely find what I need?
Thanks guys!

What I would do and is what I suggested when I worked as a counter man was to settle on a producer for the cam I wanted, then call the Tech folks and discuss with them what I wanted from the cam and what other changes were going to be made to the engine. Never had any one get upset with me for that except a fellow who built a 261, ordered a Corvette cam for it and then found out that that was the stock OEM cam for the engine.

"PEACE IS THAT GLORIUS MOMENT IN HISTORY WHEN EVERY ONE STANDS AROUND RELOADING"

THE REST OF THE STORY:He raced the engine for several years, sold it to a farmer who installed it in a home made hay rake who used it for over 10 years and then parked the outfit. About 5 years ago he called the original owner asked if he wanted the engine back so the 261 now sits in his garage with the vet cam in it.

"PEACE IS THAT GLORIUS MOMENT IN HISTORY WHEN EVERY ONE STANDS AROUND RELOADING"

Installing a cam that will give the engine"more pep" ??????
Installing a more "radical" cam will give the engine LESS power at lower engine speeds, like under 2500-3000 RPM and more power at higher engine speeds. If you do not wind out the engine through the gears and most of you driving in under 60 MPH you want a "conseritive" cam.

In 1954 Chevrolet used a higher lift cam in the Power Glide enginnes and all engines in 1956. They went back to a lower lift cam in 1959 for better fuel mileage and more engine power at the lower engine speeds - and it worked fine. Advertised horse power went from 145 at 4200 RPM to 135 at 4000 RPM but for general driving the car felt peppier at normal engine speeds ispite of the fact that the 1959 gained weight.
The highest lift solid lifter cam Chevrolet used was the one used in the 261 truck engine, 1953-1954 6 Cyl. Corvettes and 1956-1958 235 trucks.
The high lift Hyd. version used in 1954-1958 Power Glides and 1956-1958 sticks.

The "Vet" cam the engine has is a the same cam used in a 235 truck 1956-1958 and a 261 truck.

Gene, thanks for the quick response. Your correct I seldom drive above 60 and on a rare occasion might go on the interstate for a short distance. I don't won't anything to radical, just a little more pep. I've looked at Langdon's site and he offers one mechanical cam with a 260/272 duration?Like I said I know very little about cams and the different grinds. Should I be looking for something less than this? I've also looked at Summit and they offer a couple of cam kits but don't know what I should be looking for. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

2blu thanks for the tip. I've had a little chat with the people at Summit but only gave me a list of the cams they had in stock. I usually talk with Tom Langdon but he's on vacation until March. I tried Speedway but didn't get a response. I'll keep looking and asking until I find the right cam.
Sr Driver

I can't answer the duration question but for normal driving the stock cam will give the best performance and smothest idle.
Just a fresh engine with good compression an increse in power over a worn out engine.
The later 235 engine with its aluminum pistons and higher compression ratio will give better performance.
If you have Power Glide you want an engine with good low speed torque and not high Speed horse power. I would also suggest in keeping the hydraulic lifters. A higher lift cam will require stronger valve springs.

PBM Erson has cam blanks in stock , they have a 260F grind with 410 lift 260 duration that is a milder cam.I have ran the 280F 440 lift and 290F 460 lift, they are a little aggressive for normal driving but fun with the right transmission and rear axle to drive.

Hi Rawag, I'm with Gene on this. The cars generally cam with the right cam given their use, piston material, follower type, compression and gas quality.

Unless you have changed the cars physical parameters a lot why would you need to change the cam?

Modern fuels are higher octane, so there is some latitude to raise the compression if you use modern construction pistons. But this is an old style combustion chamber and although folks do big cuts and reworks on them for just road use the 261/vette cam, shaved head, twin carbs and dual exhaust with electronic ignition is all you need.

If you need more than 150Hp and over 3000rpm all the time then change engines.

Thanks for the name of the cam manufacture, I'll look them up and see what they offer. I'm getting a little more educated on cams, since I took some time read information on the Summit site. Hopefully the information I've gathered will help in a selection.

Hi Bel Air, I'm running 3.56 rear and a Saginaw 4 speed but feel like there should be a little more zip when in 3rd gear. I don't know what RPM's I'm hitting but the engine is loud. I'll have to buy a new tack since the old one died 6 years ago. But putting a fresh engine in front should help a lot.Thanks for the response, I can always count on the guys on CT.

Ok guys, I think I have enough information from all the input I gathered here and Summit to order a cam set. I'm plan on ordering from Summit cam and lifters CL61-113-4. Advertised duration 240/245 lift.455, operating range 500-4500 rpm. How does that sound to you guys?

Yes, I've made that mistake in the past thinking that it covered 194 thru 230 thru 250. So I didn't order it, even if that was the number given by one of the persons at Tech Help. So the hunt goes on, I have a couple of other places to try. Thanks for the comment.